Why Medifast is the Best (and Worst) Diet Plan

Of the dozens of weight-loss plans currently on the market, perhaps none are as expensive or as effective as Medifast, a low-calorie, low-fat diet that promises weight loss of two to five pounds per week. Medifast products come in individual packets that you mix with water, shake, microwave or refrigerate to create a daily diet of between 800 and 1000 calories to guarantee faster weight loss than other traditional diet plans. Available Medifast meals include shakes, bars, puddings, soups, chili and oatmeal.

When using Medifast, most customers adhere to the "5 and 1" plan, which includes a daily diet of five Medifast meals (limit of one bar per day) and one "lean and green meal," which includes up to seven ounces of chicken, turkey or fish, of up to five ounces of beef, pork or lamb. The Medifast "lean and green meal" also includes two cups of salad greens and up to ½ cup of raw vegetables, or up to 1 ½ cups of cooked vegetables. You can also use up to two tablespoons of Medifast low-fat salad dressing.

The secret behind the Medifast plan is that the low-calorie diet "causes fat stores to release free fatty acids that are converted by the liver into an energy source called ketones, putting the body into a mild state of ketosis, which helps you achieve rapid weight loss while not losing muscle tissue," according to www.medifast1.com. Medifast claims it takes the body up to three days to achieve this level of ketosis. Another component of the Medifast plan is eating the six meals at two to three hour intervals throughout the day, to help prevent against hunger or fatigue.

To get started, women and men can order 4-week packages of Medifast meals for the cost of around $275. This includes a sampling of some of Medifast's most popular items. Based on the message boards on the Medifast website and some of the success stories of Medifast users, the program has been deemed highly successful by those who follow the plan faithfully and do not cheat. Cheating will cause the body to fall out of ketosis, and it will take up to another three days for the body to achieve that state again.

Some of the downfalls of the Medifast plan include the high cost. At around $275 per month, plan to spend up to $1500 in order to lose up to 100 pounds. That doesn't take into account the cost of the "lean and green meal." In addition, some side effects of the Medifast plan include diarrhea, gurgling stomach and cramps, constipation, bad breath, feeling cold, skin rashes, headaches and hair loss, including other potential problems. The 800-1000 daily calorie limit, though higher for men, is very low. While working towards a state of ketosis, hunger and fatigue are prevalent among users.

As someone who has been on the Medifast plan, another downfall is the taste of the products. While some of the items taste great, like the tomato soup, crackers and chocolate pudding, I had a hard time swallowing the other meals, including all of the shakes and the minestrone soup. Medifast users are allowed to add certain spices for taste, but no matter how much pepper or hot sauce I added to some of the meals, the powdered taste would not go away.

Bottom line: the Medifast plan is only worth it for those who need to lose serious amounts of weight and for those who have failed at most other diet plans. If you're physically active, you'll need to cut down on the amount of exercise you do because of the decreased caloric intake. The high cost is another pitfall, and keep in mind you'll have to have a lot of discipline to not eat the regular meals you cook for your family or most items on a restaurant menu. However, if you have the stomach and the determination, not to mention a high bank account balance, the Medifast plan may be just what you're looking for to finally lose the weight.